JAMSHEDPUR: The East Singhbhum district administration on Wednesday asked all private hospitals to reserve ICU beds with ventilator support for Covid-19 patients. The hospitals were also asked to ensure availability of oxygen and reserve general beds for Covid patients.
“These are tough times. All healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, should voluntarily join the cause of ensuring quality treatment to patients,” deputy commissioner Suraj Kumar said. The directives were issued apprehending a rise in hospitalizations in the coming days.
On Tuesday, the district saw 434 new cases and six deaths (highest single-day death toll this year). The active caseload in the district stands at 2,073.
The district’s additional chief medical officer Dr Sahir Pall said there are efforts to prepare a pool of 4,000 Covid-19 beds by April end. “It will only be possible if private and government hospitals come together,” Pall said. There are 280 private hospitals and nursing homes in the district registered under the Clinical Establishment Act, he said.
“More than 450 beds have been reserved at Tata Main Hospital (TMH) for Covid 19 patients. Of them, 300 are oxygen supported,” Dr Ranjan Choudhary, advisor, health services, Tata Steel, told TOI.
The state-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital has reserved 100 beds while Tinplate Hospital has reserved 60 and Tata Motors Hospital (also known as Telco Hospital) has reserved 80 beds for the treatment of Covid patients. Several other hospitals and nursing homes are in the process of providing details of Covid-19 beds to the health department.